Holding device for paint cans and the like



Feb. 26, 1957 c w, p c 2,783,077

HOLDING DEVICE FOR PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 4, 1955 3 CI'IffIII 29 INVENTOR CHARLES w. PIERCE y ATTORNEY noLniNo DEVICE, FORPIAINT CANs AND THE LIKE Charles W. Pierce, Marathon, Fla. Application September 4, 1953', Serial No. 37 8,57 7

Claims. 294-33) The present invention relates to holding devices, and more particularly to a novel and improved device for gripping and holding cylindrical containers, such as paint cans, for example.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and substantially simplified holding device for paint cans and the like which is generally 'of simplified construction, adapted to be easily'applied to and removed from paint cans or other cylindrical containers, and arranged to facilitatehandlin'g of the can or container during painting or other operations.

A more specific object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved holding device for cylindrical containers whereby the top or lid of the container may be removed and replaced in the usual manner while the container is gripped by the holding device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved holding device for cylindrical containers, such as paint cans, which is provided with convenient handle means spaced away from the container and arranged so that paint or other liquid dripping down the outside walls of the container will be effectively isolated from at least that portion of the handle which is gripped by the ban of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a holding device for paint cans, for example, which is provided with convenient means for temporarily gripping and retaining a paint brush so that the handle thereof remains free of paint and so that the bristles do .not pick up dirt or other foreign matter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holding device for paint cans and the like which is provided with integral means for assisting in the removal of friction caps of the type conventionally provided on paint containers.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a holding device for the purpose and having the charasteristics enumerated above which is further characterized by the simplicity and economy With which the same may be manufactured so that the device may be stocked by hardware and paint stores and the like as a give-away item, to be furnished with the compliments of the store upon the purchase of paint or other goods, for example. Further in this regard, the invention contemplates a novel handle structure including a fiat portion of sheet metahfor example, which may be provided with suitable descriptive matter advertising the wares of the establishment furnishing the holder.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailedspecification and accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a certain preferred embodirnent of the invention.

Inthe drawing: v Figure 1 is a side elevationof a holding device of the the teachings of my invention, illustrating the same in assembled relation with a cylindrical container; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container and holding device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end elevation of the holding device of Figure 1. Referring now to the drawings my novel holding device is seen to comprise a length of wire 10, which may be of soft iron, for example, but which should have a certain amount of resiliency as will hereafter become more apparent. The length of wire 10 includes a straight vertical reach 11 which at its upper end extremity is bent forwardly and downwardly, substantially as shown in Figure 3. A generously curved portion 12 is provided joining the vertical portion 11 and the downwardly directed portion 13, as shown in Figure 1, so that a substantial space is provided between the portions 11 and 13 of the wire. As compared to the length 'of the vertical portion 11,

the downwardly extending portion 13 is relatively short,

and at its lower end is bentin a horizontal plane at 14 to define a forwardly extending are or segment of a circle. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the are or segment 14 represents ninety degrees, more or less, of arc, although this may be altered somewhat within the scope of the teachings as will. be readily apparent. I

At the outer extreme end portion of the segment 14 the wire 10 is substantially doubled upon itself, as at 15, and there is formed an arcuate portion 16 which lies generally in a horizontal plane spa'ced just below the segment l4 mentioned above, The segment 16 is arranged to constitute arc of somewhat more than one hundred eighty degrees. And as will be understood the radius of the are is substantially that of the container which the holding device is designed to grip. A representative contain'er 17'is'i1lustrated in Figures 1 and 2. I

At the end of the segment 16 opposite the end 15 the wire 10 is again doubled upon itself and formed into an arcuate "segment 17 which is complementary in all materialrespects to the segment 14. As will be observed in Figures 1 and 3 there is formed .by the segments 14, 16 and 17 an arcuate clamping member having a radius substantially equal to that of the container 17 and arranged to encompass somewhat more than one hundred eighty degrees of the container so that when the clamping rnem'ber is applied to the container the latter will be firmly retained within the former.

At the inner end 18 of the segment 17 the wire 10 is bent upwardly and outwardly to define a portion 19 complementary to the heretofore described portion 13, the arrangement, in accordance with the teachings of the invention, being such that the portions 13 and 19, jointly define a V-shaped recess for the reception of the handle 20 of a conventional paint brush 21. Preferably the arrangement is such that the bristles 22 of the brush may be restedupon the lip of the container 17 so that the brush is fully supported in a stable manner so that it may becarried about with the container 17 as may be desired.

Extending rearwardly from the upper end of the portion 19 of the wire it is a generally horizontal curved portion 23 which is complementary to the curved porthe vertical reachll. Preferably the vertical portions 11 and 24' are separated horizontally a distance'of about type contemplated by and constructed in accordance with 5 Integral with and extending outwardly 'anjd forwardly from the lower end of the vertical portion 11' is a curved portion 25Which-"merges into 'an arcuate segment 26 5111) stantially corresponding with the above described segment 14, and forming apart of a lower clamping member of my improved holding device. As will be apparent from an inspection of the drawing, the segment 26 is in substantial vertical alignment with the segment 14 While being spaced therefrom a predetermined distance, such predetermined distance being primarily a function of the size of the container for which the holding device is de signed.

In general the lower clamping member of my device is the same as the upper member heretofore described, comprising in addition to the segment 26, a segment 27 of somewhat more than one hundred eighty degrees, and a third segment 28 complementary to the segment 26. The segments 26-28 are of course integral portions of the wire 10.

Integrally joining the innermost end of the segment 28 is a curved portion 29 which is complementary to the curved portion 25 as shown in Figure 3. The curved portion 29 then merges into an upwardly extending portion 30 which is substantially colinear with the vertical portion 24 and which terminates adjacent the terminal end of the last mentioned portion 24.

Thus, the single length of wire forms spaced upper and lower clamping members which are integrally joined by the vertical portion 11 of the wire to form a unitary structure. And the vertical portion 11, together with complimentary vertical portions 24 and 30, forms a bandle portion which is spaced outwardly of the periphery of the container 17 and which may be readily grasped by the hand.

To facilitate gripping the holding device with the hand, and also to improve the strength of the device I have provided a handle'of sheet-like material which comprises a vertically elongated metal strip having its side edge portions rolled about the vertical portions 11, 24 and 30 of the wire 10 as indicated in Figure 2, for example. Not only does this element render the device more easily gripped by the hand, but it also serves the important function of maintaining the proper spacing between the vertical portions of the wire, and further to maintain the colinear relationship of the terminal end portions 24 and 30 of the wire length 10.

In addition, the metal strip 31 provides an exposed and readily visible fiat outer surface upon which may be imprinted advertising matter, for example, or directions for the use of the device or the contents of the container, as may be desired. The firstmentioned feature is thought to be of particular importance inasmuch as it is contemplated that the device of this invention may be exploited as a give-away product to be distributed in conjunction with the sale of other merchandise. I

It will be observed that the size of and vertical spacing between the upper and lower clamping members of my notably lacking in heretofore known devices of which I am aware.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention I have provided integrally with the holding device: a prying element 32,=located at the top of the curved portion 12, which may be utilized if desired to" assist in the removal of friction type container lids, as are conventionally employed in connection with paint containers. As will be readily understood, the prying element 32 may be formed integrally with the wire 10 by merely deforming the wire at that point sutficiently to obtain a protruding flat portion, much like the end portion of a conventional screw driver.

The advantages of the invention should now be ap parent. My device ,is easily and inexpensively manufactured from a single length of soft iron Wire, or equivalent material, and in its completed form, assembled with the metal strip 31, is possessed of substantial rigidity and strength for the purpose intended, while at the same time being of negligible weight so as not to unduly burden the user of the device.

In the transitional elements or portions of my device, between the upper portion of the handle and the upper clamping portion there is conveniently formed a generally V-shaped groove for retaining the handle of a paint brush in accessible position in clean condition, substantially free of foreign particles on the bristles and paint on the handle, all of which is highly desirable in painting work." At thelower end of the device, the transitional elements between the handle and the lower clamping member include downwardly curved portions, as shown in Figure 1, whereby in the event paint or other matter drips down the side walls of the container the same will be prevented from reaching that portion of the handle which is ordinarily gripped by the hand.

lt'will be understood, however, that the embodiment herein illustrated and specifically described is intended to be illustrative only, as certain alterations may be made in the materials employed and in the specific dimensions and contours of the elements without departing from the spirit of the teachings. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

1 claim:

l. A holding device for cylindrical containers comprising a handle portion formed of vertically disposed spaced reaches of wire, an upper clamping member integrally connecting said reaches, said upper clamping member comprising arcuate segments of said wire, a lower clamping member comprising like arcuate segments of said wire, said lower clamping member being aligned with but axially spaced from said upper clamping member and integrally connected with said reaches, said reaches and said clamping members being formed of a single length of wire material, and a vertically elongated sheetlike member having its edge portions wrapped about said vertical reaches to retain the same in predetermined relative relationship, the opposite ends of said length of wire lying along one of said vertical reaches whereby to be rigidly retained and concealed by a wrapped-around edge portion of said sheet-like member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including portions of said single length of wire forming a V-shaped groove at the upper end of said handle portion for reraining an elongated object.

3. A holding device for cylindrical containers comprising a vertically disposed handle portion formed of spaced substantially parallel reaches of wire, said reaches integrally joining with forwardly curved portions at their upper ends, downwardly directed portions of said wire extending integrally from said curved portions and being substantially shorter than said handle portion, first arcuate segments of, said wire extending outwardly and forwardly from said downwardly directed portions and forming in combination a segment of approximate circular shape of in excess of one hundred eighty degrees and lying substantially in a horizontal plane, a second arcuate segment of similar circular shape lying substantially in a horizontal plane parallel to said first mentioned plane and joining integrally with said first mentioned segments at their forward ends, forwardly extending portions of said wire extending integrally from the lower end portions of said parallel reaches, third arcuate segments extending outwardly and, forwardly from said forwardly extending portions, said third arcuate segments being substantially similar to said first arcuate segments and being axially aligned therewith, and a fourth arcuate segment disposed in parallel relation with said third segments and integrally joining with the forward ends thereof, said first and second segments forming an upper clamping member and said third and fourth segments forming a lower clamping member spaced axially from said upper clamping member, said clamping members being adapted to be received over the vertical side walls of a cylindrical container intermediate the ends thereof, said downwardly directed portions being directed inwardly at their lower ends to detime a V-shaped groove for the reception of an elongated object.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further including a vertically elongated sheet-like member having its side ized by said device being formed with a single length of wire material, the terminal end portions of said wire material being engaged by said sheet-like member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,463,651 Stevens Mar. 8, 1949 2,578,233 Entsminger Dec. 11, 1951 2,625,299 Uhlig Jan. 13, 1953 2,631,883 Ross Mar. 17, 1953 

